VP of Biblical Diversity

Executive Summary

Converge is a missional movement that starts and strengthens churches through the collaboration of 11 districts, Converge churches and national and international ministries. 

Our Mission and Vision is to allow the Converge movement to expand through church planting, multi-siting and churches joining our movement, to develop healthier growing churches by focusing on developing healthy, growing leaders, and to become a movement strengthened by and known for our cultural diversity.

In order to advance to the next level in our Mission and Vision, Converge needs an extremely talented individual to lead the Biblical Diversity and Reconciliation initiative.

OBJECTIVE: Establish and facilitate essential dialogue, processes, and change management that advocates and advances a culture of biblical diversity and reconciliation between the National office and the 11 districts of Converge Worldwide, our churches, and International Missions ministries as is outlined in our 7 areas of diversity.

Biblical Diversity categories are defined as follows:

1. Race: groups classified by physical characteristics, genetics, or ancestry of people, and shaped by the historical and social attitudes toward and relations among various groups.
2. Gender: groups defined by their biological sex as male and female, and influenced by cultural understandings of femininity and masculinity.
3. Ethnicity: groups classified by shared cultural heritage, history, ancestry, and homeland, often shaped by shared qualities such as language or dialect, religion, cuisine, art, and physical appearance.
4. Age: groups defined by age or life stage, often classified by generational membership or life stage.
5. Disability: groups characterized by physical or mental conditions that require different strategies for moving physically, sensing the world, or accomplishing life activities.
6. Socioeconomic Status: groups defined by income, education, and occupation, and shaped by the social benefits, privileges, or status ascribed to these groups, as compared to other groups.
7. Geography: groups classified based on their regional origins and qualified by the historical, cultural, linguistic qualities common for people in that area and by social attitudes towards those qualities. 

Converge will hire a full-time Vice President of Biblical Diversity to be a part of the Executive Ministry Team of the national office. 

This person will report directly to the President and will work with the national office and districts in diversity and reconciliation matters.

While this position will involve oversight of areas of diversity training and racial and ethnic reconciliation, it will also include the expansion of our cultural ministries, such as the Filipino, Haitian and Vietnamese Ministry Expansion Teams (METs) and our Spanish School of Church Leadership (or School of Latino Church Leadership or similar) as well as other cultural entities in order to expand our effectiveness in into those groups and empower them to reach others.

The VP of Biblical Diversity for Converge is expected to model strength in their personal

walk with Christ.  They must teach diversity through moral authority - their message comes out

of who they are and how they live.

They will need to demonstrate the ability to facilitate diversity training throughout our movement; will need to have ability to organize and implement strategies to facilitate diversity and reconciliation in our districts; will engage and embrace difficult conversations; will need to be able to lead a national movement toward racial and ethnic reconciliation efforts and a practical theology of justice in Converge.

The Hebrew word for “justice,” mishpat, occurs in its various forms more than 200 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Its most basic meaning includes treating people equitably regardless of race, social status, or other biblical diversity category.

Justice also includes speaking up and showing support for the "least of these".  It also includes opening doors of opportunity or advocating for qualified persons wherever possible, who might otherwise not be considered because of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and other biblical diversity categories.

The VP of Biblical Diversity will work alongside district leaders to establish grids to measure

progress in our movement. 

The following is list of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics that an individual

must have to be a successful VP of Biblical Diversity.  A detail of tasks, duties, and responsibilities is also listed.

Knowledge:

• Years of demonstrated servant leadership and vocational calling as a “bridge builder,” collaborator, and authentic partner across racial, gender, and other cultural divides within the historical, organizational, and sometimes theological challenges of complex Ecclesiastical structures, networks, etc.
• Years of demonstrated conviction and vocational calling to ministries of reconciliation and biblical justice (since racial reconciliation and justice matters are often married).
• Knowledge and ability to articulate a robust biblical theology of diversity and racial/ethnic reconciliation. 
• Ability to persuade, teach and build trust regarding key diversity and inclusion concepts and obligations.
• Has current and historical knowledge related to issues of discrimination. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of current trends and thinking concerning diversity and inclusion.

Skills:

• Clearly demonstrated anointing to build bridges, convey biblical principles of diversity, and to foster systemic/organizational change toward Converge's diversity mission.
• Understands and is able to articulate in verbal and written form, the importance of diversity to our movement.
• Has an understanding of how various resources, teachings, etc, may be used to advance the diversity mission of Converge.
• Highly developed skills of advising, influencing, listening, motivating, and task management.
• Strong writing and interpersonal communication skills, especially the ability to relate to and interact with a diverse workforce and all levels of Converge Worldwide.
• Experience leading a team.
• Strong, confident and effective communication skills.
• Organizational and department structuring skills.
• Time management skills.
• Strong computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Abilities: 

• Ability to envision and conceptualize the diversity and reconciliation mission of Converge.
• Ability to build Converge’s institutional capacity for diversity and reconciliation through interaction and input on effective structuring for increased effectiveness to reach, train and build leaders.
• Ability to teach, train and convey the diversity and reconciliation mission to pastors and churches within Converge Worldwide and international missions’ ministry teams.
• Ability to work with leadership to address spiritual, cultural and racial barriers in order to advance the gospel.
• Ability to lead reconciliatory efforts and help our congregations to extend hands of understanding, honor friendship and partnership across these divides.
• Ability to raise sensitivity in racial and cultural issues.
• Ability to develop tools to help church leaders grow in cultural intelligence.
• Ability to analyze, interpret and manage data.
• Ability to promote an impartial, respectful and affirmative work environment.
• Ability to prioritize in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to be flexible with time and interruptions.

QUALIFICATIONS 

The ideal candidate for this position will possess many, if not all, of the following professional quali?cations, competencies and personal qualities:

• Clearly demonstrated anointing to build bridges, convey biblical principles of diversity and reconciliation, and to foster systemic/organizational change toward Converge's diversity and reconciliation.
• Ability to lead a national movement addressing the seven categories of Biblical Diversity and developing a practical theology of justice in Converge.
• Excellent management and people skills to embrace a variety of schedules, backgrounds, formats, contexts, etc.
• Holds high intercultural knowledge and competency skills.
• Proven commitment to their local church.
• Commitment to ongoing education and learning.
• Self-starter, with the ability to work independently.
• Collaborates and engages with others in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement.
• Strong interpersonal, con?ict management, and resolution skills.
• Strong organization, prioritization and time-management skills.
• Inspires and motivates team members and effectively influences actions of others.
• Ability to travel extensively.
• Excels in attention to detail with high level of accuracy in the preparation of documents, reports, and correspondence.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Intercultural Ministries or related field.
• Preferred Master’s Degree or equivalent in intercultural development, reconciliation, peace-keeping, multicultural formation or a related field of study. 3-5 years of proven experience working in an inter/intra-cultural setting, with an emphasis on inter/intra-cultural networking and collaboration.